Choosing Voluntary Simplicity » Cooking & Baking from Scratch

Peanut Butter Cookies with a Great Peanut Taste

Shirley — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:57:59 +0000

Reader question... "My family loves your other cookie recipes, but I'm wondering if you have a recipe for peanut butter cookies. Whenever I make them, they do not taste as 'peanutty' as I would like. Any ideas or hopefully a recipe you would share?" --Rhonda P.

See the rest of this post, the recipe, and the photo »

There’s No Meat in Our Favorite Meatballs

Shirley — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:40:15 +0000

Katy, a reader from Idaho who sent me this recipe several months ago, told me that she has had people insist that these meatballs are really made of meat. I must admit I was skeptical at first... but she's right, these mock meatballs are incredible. They actually taste like "real" meatballs... the texture is the same... and they even look the same! Thank you, Katy... this recipe is definitely a keeper.

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By Request — My Oatmeal Bread Recipe

Shirley — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:01:38 +0000

Several people have written to ask for the oatmeal bread recipe I mentioned in some of my breadmaking posts. I have been making this bread for a long time and it is one of our favorites. I would guess that this recipe originally came from the back of a bag of Quaker Oats... although I am not sure. The recipe as it was given to me is simply a list of the ingredients... there are no instructions given... but here is how I make this bread.

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Molasses Crinkles — A Snickerdoodle-Like Molasses Cookie

Shirley — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:26:03 +0000

Reader question... "My mother used to make what we called snickerdoodles, but all the recipes I can find for snickerdoodles seem more like a sugar cookie to me. The cookies I remember were made like snickerdoodles but they were a molasses cookie. I wonder if you know this recipe." --Ellie

Try this recipe for molasses crinkles. The dough is rolled into balls and dipped in sugar like snickerdoodles, and this cookie has a really wonderful molasses flavor with a nice blend of spices. I was going to add that this is one of my husband's favorite cookies... but then aren't they all?

How To Freeze Cakes — Frosted or Unfrosted

Shirley — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:11:04 +0000

Reader question... "I absolutely love your delicious mix in the pan cake recipes. I make them all the time now. I have a question. Can I freeze these cakes? How?" --Marijane

High Fructose Corn Syrup — The Debate Goes On

Shirley — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:48:23 +0000

Have you seen (or read or heard) any of the recent ads defending and praising high fructose corn syrup? These ads, released by the Corn Refiner's Association, were created as part of a public relations and advertising campaign entitled "Changing the Conversation About High Fructose Corn Syrup." Its purpose was (and I quote):

"To dispel myths and correct inaccuracies associated with this versatile sweetener and highlight the important role high fructose corn syrup plays in our nation's foods and beverages. The campaign provides science-based information to consumers to enable them to make informed decisions about their food choices."

Uh huh... OK...